The Battle of Armageddon leading to the Second Coming of Jesus
The last two weeks we have been talking about the Rapture and the coming of Jesus (not the second coming) but this week we are going to jump ahead to an event that culminates in the second coming of Jesus, and that is the Battle of Armageddon. Previously we have covered the topics relating to the end times in Daniel which were linked to Revelation and are so important in understanding this book of Revelation (Daniel Ch 2,7,9). Those topics related to different beasts and the statue made of different materials. Right at the end we see the destruction of the last 10 Kingdoms on earth.
Daniel 2:31-35
31 “Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. 32 The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. 34 While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
This destruction of the final kingdoms happens at the end of Tribulation at the Battle of Armageddon.
Because this battle is at the end of tribulation and involves the last two Bowl Judgements, It is necessary that we just summarise what has happened in tribulation
Before we do that however keep in mind the purpose of tribulation. Its purpose is for the Jewish nation to repent and recognize the Messiah Jesus. It is not for the Church. Secondly it is to finally deal with Babylon and all it represents, once and for all, ie deal with the demonic realm specifically Satan and the sin of an unrepentant world.
At the start of tribulation we have already seen an increase in major wars, increase in earthquakes, a falling away from the church, Israel as a nation restored, increasing famines. Immediately apparent at the start is that there are 10 world leaders, a covenant has been signed with Israel (allowing sacrifice and offering-Daniel 9) and as we discussed in the last two weeks the church probably resurrected.
This kicks off a series of judgements (Rev 6) that come in three sets of 7.
Firstly the 7 Seal Judgements. (the 7th Seal judgement is the set of Trumpet judgements)
Then the 7 Trumpet Judgements (the 7th Trumpet judgement is the set of Bowl judgements)
Then finally the 7 Bowl Judgements
Without going into them at this time we see the following judgements play out
The 7 Seal Judgements (Rev 6/7/8) – we see very clearly spelt out and in order
White Horse- we see the rise of the Antichrist coming to conquer (first of the “four Horseman”)
Red Horse- we see the start of war and bloodshed (World War 3?)
Black Horse- we see the start of very high inflation and economic collapse
Ashen or Pale horse- we see famine plagues and widespread death- ¼ or world dies
We see the souls of martyrs under the altar calling on the Lord to “avenge our blood”
We see the sun, moon, starts and earth are now affected. We see a great earthquake, sun goes black, moon goes red, stars fall out the sky
Seventh Seal is the set of Trumpet Judgements made of 7 trumpets
Trumpet Judgements (Revelation 8/9) (in order)
Hail and Fire mixed with blood!- 1/3 world burnt
Something like a huge mountain thrown into sea. Third of sea turns to blood. A third of fish die. Third of ships destroyed.
A star falls( name Wormwood- fallen angel)- third of fresh waters become bitter- many die
Sun, moon and starts are struck- one third of each become dark
The start of the 3 “Woe judgements”- In this 1st Woe judgement- Apollyon, a fallen angel sets free demons from the “Abyss. These demons inflicts severe pain (like sting of scorpions), but do not kill ( all except those sealed by God-the 144,000+ are affected)
2nd Woe- 4 fallen angels (demonic realm) are released and one third of mankind killed. There were 200 Million enemy!
This brings us to mid tribulation.
Firstly we see the antichrist’s authority step up to the next level for the 3.5 years (Rev 13:5)
We see a beast come out of the see- the antichrist, under the control of the dragon Satan.
Revelation 13:1-9, and we see in v5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7 It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. 8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life
The beast’s rise to power is made possible by Satan’s indwelling power
B. The woman and the dragon in Rev 12:1-6 (Israel is the woman and Satan the dragon.
We see the picture of a dragon (Satan) who wishes to kill the child (Jesus) of the woman (Israel) as she is prepared to give birth. But the child is snatched up to God to his throne. The woman then flees- a picture of Israel fleeing at the end of time
Revelation 12:6 6 The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.
While we cannot be dogmatic about this, it is evident that the place prepared for her that matches many scriptures and descriptions as Bozrah also called Petra southwest of Jerusalem in the land of Edom on the border with Moab. So at this time we see many in Jerusalem flee to this place prepared by God for safety at Mid trib – (This is an important part of the Battle of Armageddon)
(Ref re Bozrah- see Matt 24:15-21, Is 33:14-16 (impregnable rocks), Micah 2:10-13 (in the fold –literal translation= Bozrah), Is 63:1 (Bozrah), Is 42:10-15, Ps 60:9-12. (I have seen Petra/ Bozrah called Sela as well)
C. There is a great war in heaven and Satan is cast out of heaven at mid-trib
Revelation 12:9
9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. (Rev 12:9)
D. The two witnesses die at this time
But after 3.5 days return to life and are “raptured” into heaven! (Rev 11)
E the Antichrist miraculously is resurrected after having sustained a mortal blow (Rev 13:3)
F. The second beast is revealed: The first was the Antichrist, the second is the false prophet who works with the antichrist to worship Satan- makes an animated image for people to worship. People are killed if this is not done. People are also marked on the right hand or forehead- no mark cannot buy or sell (“His number is 666”)
Everything escalates from this point- authority and control by the antichrist and the ensuing plagues, called the Bowl judgements
The 7th Trumpet is the set of Bowl Judgements-which follow mid-trib
Bowl Judgements
Painful sores on those with the mark of the beast.
Sea turns to blood and all creatures in it die.
All the rivers and springs become blood.
Sun becomes very hot and people are scorched by intense heat
The kingdom of the beast is plunged into a painful darkness
The Euphrates becomes completely dry
This is then where Phase 1 of the Battle of Armageddon starts
The drying up of the Euphrates is the trigger (or perhaps enables) the kings of the east, of Babylon to go to the plains at the hill (Har) of Magedon in the Jezreel Valley. We know this as Armageddon. From this point they can attack Jerusalem
Phase 2.
Phase 2 of the Battle of Armageddon is the destruction of Babylon. The army has left to attack Israel and so Babylon is now open to attack and destruction.
This destruction is accomplished in two steps, beginning with an invading army sent by God to destroy the city. This army consists of the rebellious kings coming against the antichrist. These armies defeat the city but they do not hold the city for very long before God destroys the city completely with the 7th Bowl Judgement
Revelation 18 only summarizes the outcome of both, so we need to go outside the chapter to find details on each part individually
Destruction by armies from the north
Jeremiah tells us the attack will come from the north and consist of a great nation and many kings
He also identities the northern nations involved
Jeremiah 51:27-28 “Lift up a banner in the land! Blow the trumpet among the nations!
Prepare the nations for battle against her; summon against her these kingdoms: Ararat, Minni and Ashkenaz. Appoint a commander against her; send up horses like a swarm of locusts.
28 Prepare the nations for battle against her— the kings of the Medes, their governors and all their officials, and all the countries they rule.
Jeremiah names God’s consecrated as the kingdoms of Ararat (Turkey), Minni (Armenia), Ashkenaz (southern Russia/Black Sea), and the Medes
Jeremiah 50:9 For I will stir up and bring against Babylon an alliance of great nations from the land of the north. They will take up their positions against her, and from the north she will be captured. Their arrows will be like skilled warriors who do not return empty-handed.
Messengers tell the King of Babylon of the destruction
Jeremiah 51:31 One courier follows another and messenger follows messenger
to announce to the king of Babylon that his entire city is captured,
Then God intervenes with the 7th and final Bowl Judgement
2. Destruction from God-the 7th Bowl
It starts with an unimaginably destructive hailstorm and earthquake unlike any other earthquake ever. Mountains are gone, islands are gone, and even the continents are ripped apart. The purpose of the seventh bowl judgment is to eliminate all Gentile cities anywhere on Earth especially Babylon. Only Jerusalem has been excluded from these judgments
Revelation 16:17-21
17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. 21 From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds,[a] fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.
This is total devastation , “cities of the nations” ie all nations other than Israel-collapse, “the great city”= Babylon is split into three, mountains are levelled, islands disappear. 100 lb hailstones destroy the earth and what is on it. And so at the end – the Great City, Babylon – will be utterly destroyed
Literally and spiritually Babylon is being destroyed completely
Phase 3
This phase involves three different locations in the Middle East: Jerusalem, the Mt. of Olives and Botzrah
DAN. 11:40 “At the end time the king of the South will collide with him [the antichrist], and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, with horsemen and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overflow them and pass through. He will also enter the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall; but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon.
So there are three areas of the world will be rescued out of his hands: Edom, Moab and Ammon These are ancient names for roughly the same region, which is present-day Jordon, a strip of land east of the Jordan River. This is also the region that includes Botzrah. This is where many of the Jews had fled to in Mid trib.
The Antichrist’s armed forces are located largely in the Jezreel Valley in northern Israel ready to attack Jerusalem , but he now moves them to west of Jerusalem
Daniel 11:42-45
42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites[a] in submission. 44 But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas and the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.
The Antichrist, while in the land of Israel, hears of the defeat of Babylon at the hands of the king of the North. These rumours disturb him here, and bring him to great wrath and lead him to annihilate many. Then in v.45 Daniel says this news also causes him to move his forces from the Jezreel Valley to the west side of Jerusalem He camps between the sea and in the east the” beautiful Holy Mountain”, a reference to Mt. Zion. So he will be located in the foothills on the western side of the country.
The OT prophets give plenty of detail about the ensuing attack of Jerusalem, Beginning with Joel, who tells us this attack is centred on Jerusalem in the Valley of Jehoshaphat
Joel 3:12 12 “Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat ,for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side.
They come to the valley of Jehoshaphat, which is another name for the Kidron valley along the east side of the city. So the armies approach from the west and eventually surround the city on all sides
Isaiah gives us more detail on this attack
Isaiah 29:1-3
29 “Woe to]Ariel [Jerusalem], to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! Add year to year; Let feasts come around. Yet I will distress Ariel; There shall be heaviness and sorrow, And it shall be to Me as Ariel.3 I will encamp against you all around, I will lay siege against you with a mound, And I will raise siegeworks against you.
In this passage, Isaiah describes the place under attack as Ariel, which is another Hebrew name for the city of Jerusalem. The enemy is now all around the city
Finally, Zechariah gives a very detailed description of the attack and of the Lord’s defence of the city
Zechariah 14:2
2 I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.
So the defences are breached. This happens over about 3 days and then the Lord will come to their defence
Zechariah 12:2-9
2 “I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. 3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. 4 On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness,” declares the Lord. “I will keep a watchful eye over Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations. 5 Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘The people of Jerusalem are strong, because the Lord Almighty is their God.’
6 “On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves. They will consume all the surrounding peoples right and left, but Jerusalem will remain intact in her place.
7 “The Lord will save the dwellings of Judah first, so that the honour of the house of David and of Jerusalem’s inhabitants may not be greater than that of Judah. 8 On that day the Lord will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord going before them. 9 On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem.
After the siege comes against Jerusalem, the Lord will make the city like a heavy stone too heavy to lift and when the nations try to “lift” it, they will be injured in the attempt. He is describing the way the Lord supernaturally defends the city during the Antichrist’s siege so that he can’t take the city. The horses will be struck with bewilderment and blindness and the riders with madness. So the attackers and their animals will become confused and disorganized. We also see God giving them strength in vs8!
At the sight of this, in v.5 we’re told the people in the city will acknowledge that the Lord is the One coming to their defence and we see especially vs 8-9 the Lord coming to their aid
And that turn begins with a movement of the Spirit
ZECH. 12:10 “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. 11 On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be as great as the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.
He pours His Spirit out on two related groups: the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The house of David refers to the ruling class of the nation of Israel. The inhabitants of the city refer to the Jewish population still alive in the city
As a result of the pouring out of the Spirit, they begin to make a national confession of faith. They look upon Jesus, the One that Israel pierced in previous millennia, and they mourn for Him
So those remaining Jews who are barricaded in the city receive the gift of faith as the Spirit comes upon them all. And the effect of the Spirit’s arrival is an instant recognition that Jesus is the Messiah Except that this doesn’t feel like good news to these Jews, because the Spirit also reveals that Israel killed its Messiah. Zechariah says they mourn terribly for Jesus, and this mourning is a sign they have come to believe in Him . And when they do God says in Leviticus
LEV. 26:42 then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and I will remember also My covenant with Isaac, and My covenant with Abraham as well, and I will remember the land.
And the Lord moves on the basis of grace alone to fulfil promises He made to Israel
Because of this revelation of Jesus the Messiah to the Jews, their repentance and calling out to God the Lord hears their call and as promised He comes to earth a second time to save His people
Revelation 19:11-16
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written :king of kings and lord of lords.